Belgium opens new visa application center in Rabat
This new center complements the existing one in Casablanca and aims to improve access to consular services. «It reflects our commitment to a transparent, professional, and accessible service», said Salden. Initially, the Rabat center will handle only student visa applications to simplify the process for those pursuing higher education in Belgium.
Until now, students had to travel to Casablanca to submit their documents and then to Rabat for a required questionnaire. With this new center, all steps can now be completed in Rabat on the same day. «This represents a major simplification of the process», Salden noted, adding that the digitization of the system ensures faster, more efficient processing while introducing new digital workflows.
Ambassador Heyvaert emphasized the strategic importance of Morocco to Belgium and said that visa policy is part of the broader bilateral relationship. «This initiative guarantees high-quality service and reasonable processing times», he said.
TLScontact, which has worked with Belgium since 2016, highlighted that the new center marks an extension of operations beyond Casablanca. «We are committed to providing optimal conditions for applicants», Missaoui affirmed.
The Belgian Embassy in Morocco currently handles over 20,000 visa applications per year—a number that continues to rise.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
09-07-2025
- Morocco World
ONMT Partners with European Travel Association to Boost Moroccan Tourism
Rabat — Morocco's National Tourism Office (ONMT) has signed a strategic partnership with the European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Association (ECTAA) to strengthen the country's position as a leading destination in the European travel market. Through joint organization of various B2B events, communication campaigns, and study days with ECTAA, the tourism office will now gain access to ECTAA's network of approximately 80,000 European travel companies. A statement from ECTAA noted that Morocco already enjoys popularity as a travel destination, particularly in the Benelux market (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg). The ONMT maintains a strong presence in the Belgian market, as the country served as the 'Host Country' for the Travel Awards last year, an event that brought together nearly 1,000 Belgian travel professionals. Earlier this year, ONMT partnered with YelloSun to organize a sports tourism trip where about 20 travel European agents ran the Marrakech half-marathon. In the statement, ECTAA's Secretary General Eric Drésin described Morocco as 'a reliable and inspiring partner' and 'the natural gateway to Africa.' The collaboration aims to promote both iconic sites and lesser-known regions, with a focus on 'sustainable travel' — one of Morocco's national pillars. The partnership is designed to help Morocco expand its reach across European markets while paving the way for responsible tourism practices that align with the country's commitment to sustainable development in the tourism sector. ONMT has been putting in robust efforts to promote Morocco as a leading destination for tourism in the African continent. The country recently held an all-hands meeting that gathered executives from headquarters and international offices, in a move to enhance managerial performance. The meeting signals a shift in how Morocco aims to tackle tourism ambitions and better prepare for international competitions, particularly the 2025 AFCON and 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco World
25-06-2025
- Morocco World
Bayer Leverkusen Target Leicester's Bilal El Khannouss
Rabat — Moroccan international and Leicester City midfielder Bilal El Khannouss is currently under Bayer Leverkusen's radar as they look to fill the void left by Florian Wirtz's departure to Liverpool. The 21-year-old Moroccan international finds himself in an uncertain position after Leicester's relegation to the Championship following their 18th-place finish in the 2024-25 Premier League season. Despite the Foxes' struggles, El Khannouss showed promise during his debut campaign in English football. Leicester signed El Khannouss from Belgian club Genk last summer for £21 million. During his 32 Premier League appearances, the midfielder showed prowess, delivering solid performances despite his team's disappointing results and scoring two goals and three assists. Now, Leverkusen sees an opportunity. The German club recently sold their star playmaker Wirtz to Liverpool for a massive £116 million, leaving them with both the funds and the need to find a creative spark for their midfield. According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Leverkusen has already made contact regarding El Khannouss' terms. The Bundesliga runners-up had tracked the young midfielder during his time at Genk and now view this summer as the perfect moment to make their move. Manager Erik ten Hag wants to bring El Khannouss to the BayArena, where he would link up with fellow Moroccan Amine Adli. The club sees the Leicester man as the ideal candidate to help maintain their creative output following significant squad changes. Leverkusen won't have a clear path to El Khannouss, though. Wolverhampton Wanderers have also shown interest, reportedly considering him as a potential replacement for Matheus Cunha. The transfer looks feasible from a financial standpoint. Reports suggest El Khannouss has a release clause worth £22 million in his Leicester contract. For Leverkusen, flush with cash from the Wirtz sale, meeting that figure shouldn't present major obstacles. El Khannouss faces a crucial decision about his future. He can either help Leicester bounce back to the Premier League or take the next step in his career with a move to Germany's top flight. The Atlas Lion has already proven he can compete at the highest level during his Premier League stint. A switch to Leverkusen would offer him the chance to play Champions League football and continue his development under ten Hag's guidance. With Leicester's relegation confirmed and Leverkusen's genuine interest, this transfer story could develop quickly as the summer window progresses.
Morocco World
16-06-2025
- Morocco World
Morocco Establishes Defense Industry Zones Through New Joint Venture
Doha – The Moroccan government has officially authorized the creation of a company dedicated to developing and managing specialized industrial zones for defense industries. According to decree N° 2.25.428 published in the Official Bulletin on June 9, the new entity – dubbed the 'Defense Industrial Zones Management Company' – will be established as a joint venture between the Military Housing and Equipment Agency (ALEM) and MEDZ, a subsidiary of the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG) group. The new company will be capitalized at MAD 300,000 ($30,000), with ownership split equally between ALEM and MEDZ. Its primary mission will be to design, develop, market, and manage industrial zones specifically dedicated to defense industry activities. This initiative implements royal directives aimed at creating two specialized industrial zones for defense manufacturing, in accordance with Law 10.20 governing defense and security equipment, weapons, and ammunition. The project follows a strategic partnership agreement signed on November 8, 2023, between the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the National Defense Administration, CDG, and ALEM. The authorization, decided on May 22, was signed by the head of government and countersigned by Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah Alaoui. It grants a one-year period for the company's establishment from the date of publication in the Official Bulletin. The industrial zones will host manufacturing activities and services related to the production of weapons, ammunition, and defense and security equipment. This development represents a major step in Morocco's strategy to build sovereign capabilities in military technology and attract international investors to strengthen the country's defense production capacity. ALEM, which has been operating since 1994 when it replaced the Military Housing and Equipment Fund, specializes in constructing housing for military personnel and developing infrastructure. Meanwhile, MEDZ positions itself as Morocco's leading institutional investor dedicated to the development and management of industrial parks. This is not the CDG subsidiary's first involvement in defense industry projects. MEDZ previously participated in a planned ultra-modern maintenance center for military aircraft and helicopters in Benslimane, in partnership with Belgian company Blueberry and American manufacturer Lockheed Martin, though this project has yet to materialize. The creation of these specialized zones comes as Morocco has already begun attracting defense industry investments, including a recently announced project from Indian conglomerate Tata. The project was also approved following the agreement of the National Agency for Strategic Management of State Participations, headed by Abdellatif Zaghnoun, along with the boards of directors of both MEDZ and ALEM. Tags: DefenseMoroccan MilitaryMoroccan Royal Armed Forces
